I Am Machine

Chapter Three

Valentine -

       "RATHER FEEL PA-AIN!" Matt yelled at the top of his lungs, abandoning his microphone and screaming his heart out. People give him shit because he's not Adam, but he really does kick some serious ass up on stage. I clapped and cheered with everyone else at the party, having a great time and feeling a slight buzz from the second beer I had in my hand.

        My party turned out to be a real hit, and ended up attracting some of Juan's neighbors, or family, or, well, I don't actually know. They could just be street rats and riffraff wanting to see Three Days Grace. Oh well, shit happens.

        "As you all may know..." Matt began, his chest heaving up and down aggressively. "My brother Brad helped found this band back in '92. He's been here, writing, doing his thing, and he's written some great riffs for Three Days Grace. He's been an integral part of this band, but he's come to a decision." Matt started tearing up, his voice getting husky. "He's decided that he's leaving Three Days Grace. Luckily, he didn't just ditch us and is willing to help out our new guy. I'd like to welcome to the stage, the main event of the party, Valentine Milano!"

        I grinned happily and waved to the rounds of applause that I was getting as I mounted the stage. I walked up to Brad as he unslung his bass and held it out to me. Temporarily ignoring the instrument, I drew him into a rough hug, drawing whistles and louder cheers from the crowd. I drew back and smiled at him. "Good luck doing what you need to do. I'll keep 'em warm for ya."

        Brad handed me the bass and patted me on the back as he climbed offstage and got into his car, driving into the darkening horizon. I walk up slowly to my microphone, pausing for dramatic effect as everyone watches the car disappear.

        "I'd like to dedicate this song to my idol, Brad. Wherever he is, whatever he's going to be doing. This one's for him. This is the first Three Days Grace song I ever played. This is a little song called Break, maybe you've heard of it." I said casually as Barry begins the one-note intro and Neil pumps out the beat, throwing in a little improv soloing. I smile as Matt whips out a whistle and screeches into the verse. I love this song, it's so bass-intensive.

        "Break! Away from everybody, break! Away from everything! If you can't stand the way this place is, take yourself to higher places!" I sing along to the chorus in my rumbling baritone voice, almost seeming to take over lead vocals. I could get used to this.

        We finished the set just as it got dark. Barry walked up to me, towering over my 5'6 height, and told me "Good work. Keep it up." I went over to Neil, hoping to get to know the band a little better. "Hey Neil, what do you want me to do with this bass?" I held up the Ernie Ball Musicman instrument, labeling it most likely as a Stingray.

        "Oh yeah. Brad told you to keep that. Something about it having unwanted attachment to past memories or some mushy shit like that." Neil said, unscrewing his drumset to pack it up and turning his face away from me.

        "It must be hard, losing two lifelong friends like that. All in the past year and half, too. You holding up ok? I ask, concerned at the gruffness with which he was handling things.

        "Yeah, it's cool. I've written a couple songs about it to help, you know how music is. I've also been thinking about going solo, did you know that? I don't think I'd leave Three Days Grace. But I've been wanting to do some more progressive stuff. Kinda like Dream Theater, y'know?" Neil put the bass drum in the gig bag, beginning to stack the drums.

        "Huh. Well, do whatever you need to, man, but don't give up just because things have been falling apart. You just gotta keep picking up the pieces, especially with something as great as Three Days Grace. You've still got Barry and Matt and Dani. And now you've got me. I know it isn't the same as having Brad or Adam here," I paused as Neil coughed briskly, "But I'm here through it all. A friend, a bandmate, a brother. I've gotcha, Neil." I finish, standing up and patting him gently on the head. Walking off to his quiet tears, I go to find Matt.

        To no surprise, he's in the house with a group of girls, telling them stories about his fun-filled times in My Darkest Days. Seeing me walk in, he tells a joke and excuses himself, leaving the women giggling and gazing after him as he approaches me. "Hey, good job out there, kid. Our new members keep getting younger and younger, maybe we can keep this band going throughout the century." He said, chuckling and elbowing me good-naturedly.

        I laughed along as we walked towards the glass doors overlooking the front of the house. The streetlamps shined dimly and gave the area a withered, tired look. I glanced over to Matt, noticing his sudden silence as he looked off to the road where Brad had driven away from just an hour earlier. He had just lost his brother for an unknown amount of time, and he was definitely feeling it, now that there were no girls to distract him from the pain.

        "Hey, man, there's a bunch of girls waiting for us back there, y'know. I'm legal now." I told him, raising my eyebrow in mock suggestiveness. He broke into a grin and ambled towards the living room, grabbing a glass of beer. "Hey, ladies!" He greets them as I enter the living room. "Val here just told me he's legal now. Three cheers for Val!" He yells unnecessarily loudly. I brush it off and wink at a cute girl sitting on the corner of the couch, sitting down.

        The girls began to compliment my appearance, noticing my muscular definition and my smooth features. I ran my hand through my hair (as women love) and gave them my best grin. I turn to the girl I had winked at and whispered into her ear, "It's a bit early on, but will you be my Valentine, just for tonight?" I grinned cheesily and chuckled as she dragged me into another room. I heard something about strip poker with Matt, and I sighed. I was living my dream of stardom, and it was only my eighteenth birthday.